Craig &nbspColeman

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Full Name

Craig John Coleman

Background

From the Herald Sun 13th May 2011

A pedophile who sexually abused the toddler daughter of friends he met through a western suburbs Christian centre was jailed today for four years and 11 months. Judge Frances Millane said Craig John Coleman, 28, recorded the abuse in a journal with the words "What have I done. On Thursday the 21st I sexly (sic) did things with a 3 year old girl that I was babysitting!!!''. Judge Millane said the effect on the victims' family had been devastating. "The complainant's parents, who trusted you as a family friend, have been deeply traumatised by this experience and by their concern about the long-term impact of sexual abuse on their young daughter,'' she said.

Coleman claimed to be a sex addict who turned to child pornography on the internet after becoming desensitised to adult pornography. "Notwithstanding your reported feelings of guilt and disgust you nevertheless felt aroused by child pornography and have fantasies involving children,'' Judge Millane said in her County Court sentence. "Your conduct was opportunistic and you currently represent a high risk of reoffending.'' Coleman pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual penetration of a child under 12 years and four charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16 years. The victim was aged between aged between 2 years and 9 months and 3 years and 3 months at the time of the offences, which were committed between March and October last year when Coleman was babysitting.

Judge Millane said that after examining similar cases she was not satisfied "that this offending should be categorised as offending at the higher end of the range''. But the court had to send a message to the community. "The sentence imposed today must show the community's condemnation of the conduct that exploits and abuses the vulnerability children aged under three,'' she said. "To the extent that this is possible, it must act as a deterrent both to others with a sexual deviancy involving young children and to you.''. The judge said the offences came to light when the victim told her mother that Coleman had taken her undies off. She set a maximum term of seven years and four months and said Coleman should be registered as a serious sexual offender.

From the Herald Sun 12th April 2011

A committed Christian father has told a court his sex and pornography addictions are to blame for him molesting a three-year-old girl. Craig John Coleman, 28, attacked the girl when she was at his house last year. He said he was attracted to under-age girls after becoming addicted to child pornography. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and four counts of committing an indecent act with a child. Prosecutor Michelle Zammit told the County Court there were two occasions of abuse. Ms Zammit said the full extent of the abuse was revealed by Coleman in his record of interview after police seized his diary, which contained a confession.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim's mother said her daughter had developed a fear of men, including her grandfathers, and had displayed sexual behaviour. "We are so worried about her," the mother wrote. "I have never felt so protective of my children. We can only hope and pray this will not have a long-term effect on my daughter. It just breaks my heart." Coleman, a member of a western suburbs Pentecostal congregation, told the court he was addicted to sex and adult and child pornography. Coleman's wife - due to give birth to their second son - has returned to New Zealand since he was charged. Judge Frances Millane adjourned the hearing to next month.

Alias

Date of Birth

Born 1983

Offences

Current Location

Prison

Three Strikes Status

Nil

Victims

**Suppressed**

Offender Affiliations

...

Gang Affiliations

Parole

Sentenced to 7 years 4 months with a 4 year 11 month non-parole period in May 2011